Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-24

NIs
but nfterward swelcd rapidly the face at
first was not badly discolored. but changed
fast. Mr. Ilerrick thought it was some
body that had lloatcd down and would no.
be called for, and proposed to bury it there
in the sand Sent for tools and had grave
dug. Witness did not feel satisfied with
this aud stopped down and pressed the hair
apart and found wound on the head about
four inches long When he found this MIR.
Herrck changed his mind about burving
the body. The dress was tied about the
neck with n cord about sixteenth of an
inch in size In one stocking found Il purse
containing two one-dollar bills, one with
portrait Of Geo Washington and one with
portrait of Martha Washington also i'm
the purse piece Of sweet flag and pieces
of snake root. The body when found was
four or five rods from the main current of
the river was in still water except what
ripples came in.
Witness described tracks which he found
in the sand ON the island while Herrick was
gone To the street after tools 10 dig grave.
Tracks were made by large burc feet they
led both ways, toward the river and buck .
could not trace them down to the river on
account of the pebbles and small stones.
The place was 80 or 20 rods from the rail
bles were showed up and IA little place made
rs If some one carrying heavy weight
had dropped one end Of it to rest little /:
it was as if made by the end Of "a stick Of
timber or 10y the feet of person Gleason
thought some animal made the place Dr.
Conland and Mr. Bond the undertaken
were sent for aud came the body was put
in a box and packed in ice aud afterwnrd
was carried 10 the cemetery and put in the
tomb. All agreed it could not have been "a
case Of suicide.
). ~ Hcrrick, first secctman, sworn
Was notified by Mr.. Hcscock that the body
had been found about 0.3O Sunday morn
ing. Went down and saw the body lying
| in three feet Of water, \ or 10 feet from
the shore. Described the body, what was
done, the string, the clothing, etc, substan-
TALLY as done by Mr. lIcscock. Did not at
/ first think of murder: no one recognized
| the body; it smelt bad and he thought Of
| burying it, but when the wound on the
head was found changed his mind Sent
| for Mr. Bond and telegruphed to Mr.. Tay
| lor, selectman of Hinsdale, the body hav-
ing been found in that town. Taylor and
| other authorities came over and an inquest
was held at Putnams at the toll bridge
the body was then by them turned over To
the Brattlcboro authorities. Thought the
| person had been dead not more than To
days.
Mr. Herrcl produced in court pieces cut
from the girls clothing, the string, the
purse and money, and the ear jewels taken
| from the ears.
Fred NJ Waitc-sworn. Saw the BODY
| Sunday afternoon in the tomb and recog-
nized it rs the body of Helen A. Burt. Had
seen her often at Sugland's house or shan
| ty. Couldn't tell exactly when he last saw
her, but 1t was sometime during the week
/ previOus-thHt is, more than "A week before
the body was found. She had been at Sug-
lands by spells ever since the shantv was
! built lOt or II months ago. Sugland's
house is on "A road leading from Houghton' :
| ferry up to John lluughton's place: is
southeast Of Houghton's about one fourth
mile from the river and IA mile from Dunn
merston station.
Dennis Tasker-sworn Is clerk in post
Office Saw the body mt the cemetery Sun.
day afternoon and recognized it a. the
body Of IA girl known ms Helen A. Burt
Knew her because she was in the habit Of
calling at the post office for mail Had
called for letters about or $ months She
last called u few days after Memorial day.
\ girl also calls Tor letters that calls herself
Lefty Gould or Lefty Gould Sugland. Mrs
Henry Almond and John Sugand have al
so called for letters for the Burt girl
Frank Green senior and Frank Green Jun
inr had also called for her letters Sug
land called the last time last Thursday az
ternoon. Could not say positively whether
it was Thursday but felt sure it was Thurs
day. At that time gave him II letter direct
ed 10 Helen A. Burt Mrs Almond or tn,
Greens had not called for her mail sine,
last spring
On cross examination said that Sugland
used to call for her letters last fall and ha,
called occasionally for months past. Al
one time ordered her letters to be forward
ed to Rutland. Last saw the Burt girl hv,
or six days after Memorial day.
DR.. II. u. Holton-sworn. Made n post
mortem examination of the body in ques
ton at the cemetery Monday afternoon
The body was taken ont Of the tomb foi
the purpose and the examination was mad,
in the shade Of the trees near by Was as
sisted by DR.. Conland who made notes al
his CIolton's) dictaton. aud 10y Dr. Kirk
land. There was mud on the body and on
the clothing, indicating that it had been il
the river. Body was dressed in corset,
with black jersey waist, striped skirt and
blue flannel dress. The body was badl,
bloated and in an advanced state of decom
position; was ) feet , inches in length
There was Il wound ON the head 81 niche,
long, extending from the edge Of the hail
back through the scalp little to the right
The edges Of the wound were pretty even
was cut down 10 the skull Took the scalI
off the Uranium, when it appeared that 1
blow had been struck which loOsened the
scalp on the left side down TO near the ear
At the back of the head blood had settled
under a place as big as the palm Of tn,
hand This might have been done by tn,
same blow which cut the scalp, but proba
bly, was done 10y a third blow Either tw,
or three blows had been struck ON the head
Took off top Of skull bone the membran,
surrounding the brain were much disturbed
The brain was entirely disorganized by de
composition, Found no fracture of tn,
skull. Edges Of the wound were not mucl
separated appearances was as if mad,
when the victim was alive would not hav,
been much different if made soon afteI
death. Opened windpipe and chest to Sc,
if there were indications Of drowning
Lungs were collapsed, which would no
have been the case if death had been b,
drowning. There was nothing in the lungs
either water or mud Both sides of tn,
heart were empty, which would not indi
cate drowning. If death had been b,
drowning there would probably have beer
water in lungs and stomach was no wateI
in stomach. Death took place before tn,
body was put in the water. In answer /,
question from counsel Dr. Holton said i
was his opinion that death took place from
conclusion of the brain The vital organs
were all healthy. Age of the person wa!
about % years. Had been in the water
three or four days, or perhaps longer il
this matter IL was impossible 10 tell how
long After decomposition began it woul,
20 ON very rapidly. There were gasei
enough in the chest or in the brain 10 hav,
caused the body 10 rise. The injuries coul,
not have been self inflicted. An mtermis
sion was here taken for dinner.
Tuesday Afternoon. Hearing.
Session resumed ut . o'clock. Denn'
Tasker recalled Could not say when. be
fore last Thursday or Friday, Sugland Ina,
called for mail for Helen Burt Did not re
member any time since last fall Attract
ed his notice now because she had been call
ing for herself lately, and Sugland had moi
called for her. Last fall ordered her letter,
forwarded to Rutland.
Austin h. Russel-sworn Is clerk in
post office. Has been there about six years
Did not recall delivering any letter to Sug
land for Helen Burt since last fall. lla,
waited on him but should say not since last
fall. Hadn't seen the Burt girl since last
fall,
c. W. Wilcox, assistant postmaster
sworn. Answered no to question whether
Sugland had inquired of him for letters foI